Merchants prepping for downtown renovation

Owners worry businesses will see decline during construction

MOSES LAKE — Several operators of businesses located downtown are sure that renovations to Third Avenue and Sinkiuse Square are changes for the better.

They just hope they'll be around to see it.

One of the chief concerns of impacted businesses is maintaining their business during the construction stage of the renovations, expected to begin July 15 and last through the end of October.

"Customers in Moses Lake tend to like to be able to get right up to the front door," said Baby, Naturally! owner Adrienne Strickland. That may become a difficulty during the construction. "I think that's why a lot of us are worried we're going to lose our customers during the renovation."

Sally Goodwin, executive director of the Moses Lake Business Association, said the businesses impacted are on both sides of the 100 west block of Third Avenue and part of the next block, across the street from Sinkiuse Square.

"Both intersections of Ash and Division will be redone," Goodwin said, adding she doesn't think construction will affect businesses in the block on the other side of Division, most of which have multiple entrances.

"The street will be all torn up all at the same time, because logistically it's the only way they can do it," Goodwin said of the City of Moses Lake. "The sidewalks will be out when the trees and light poles come out."

Goodwin said the project will go to bid at the end of the month, and details will be solidified once a contractor is identified.

"We're hoping the contractor will work with us — the city is not demanding, but they're asking them to — as far as gravel or plywood or something for sidewalks when it's feasible," Goodwin said. "There will be some time when that business front door might not be accessible."

MLBA is working with the affected businesses to get together on a backdoor-alley promotion, and asking the community to be respectful of the businesses and not ignore them while renovations are under construction.

"It's going to be wonderful when it's done, but we're going to have to keep them in business, too," she said, noting downtown will not be completely torn up for the entirety of the renovation.

Several businesses in the affected blocks do not have side or back doors.

"They're going to be really affected," Goodwin said. "We're suggesting that if they want to take a vacation, this might be a time to do it. Once the bid is let, we'll know more about timing, and so we can really pinpoint that."

The MLBA is also encouraging property owners to improve their facades and buildings during the time of renovations.

"It will be one mess to clean instead of two, it will all look nice when it's all done," Goodwin said.

She added that she had a retail business on Third Avenue at a time when downtown was undergoing construction.

"It affected, yes. It didn't destroy business, it did affect it," she said, noting her business was required to use the back door during that time period of construction. Customers will still come in and be curious about what is going on downtown, and Goodwin advised businesses take advantage. "Yes, you have reason to be apprehensive, but we have time to work on it and we can make a plan for some promotion and really work together as a unit, so everybody isn't struggling individually. It's going to be so wonderful when it's done. That's why we're calling it downtown's extreme makeover."

Cobblestone Corner owner Gail Hellewell said her business will probably have to be open on Sundays, a day when construction is not taking place, and noted the store does not have any other access except for its front door.

But Cobblestone Corner is also considering making a permanent move into a larger space. Hellewell said it was something she was contemplating before the renovation, and is hoping to complete before the renovations are under way.

"It's a very big concern," said Mary Utsunomiya, owner of Frederick's Jewelry and Fine Gifts. "There hasn't been a whole lot of traffic downtown for a long time, and if they cut it off, (customers) are going to go somewhere else. They're not going to walk through gravel."

Strickland said the businesses hope Moses Lake citizens and downtown shoppers know the renovations will make downtown more attractive and pedestrian-friendly.

"We hope they stick with us through it so we still have businesses once the renovation is complete," she said.

Utsunomiya agreed, adding she guessed her 53-year-old business would just have to roll with the punches.

"We've been here a really long time, and toughed out some really bad times," Utsunomiya said. "Fifty-three years, you can imagine the ups and downs. I imagine we'll tough this one out too."